KNITTERS for KNOCKERS

HELP for HAITI and the DRC

2010-02-04T12:43:00.002-05:00

The Campanula and Hibiscus Sock patterns have been re-issued as HIBISCUS FOR HAITI and CAMPANULA FOR THE CONGO

In 2007 & 2008 the Campanula for the Cure and Hibiscus for Hope sock patterns, together with some very sore muscles, blistered feet and 60 km (twice) helped me raise some $13,500.00 for The Weekend to End Breast Cancer. As there continues to be interest in these patterns, I have reformatted the patterns and I'm offering them as incentives to knitters to donate to these two other worthy causes.

I have re-purposed Hibiscus to raise funds and support for Médecins Sans Frontières, whose efforts in Haiti have been in demand both before the catastrophic earthquake on January 12, 2010 and even more so since then.
To obtain the HIBISCUS FOR HAITI pattern, simply make a donation in any amount to MSF at Donate to MSF's Emergency Relief Fund. Then notify me here or on Ravelry and I will send you the pattern.

MSF’s devotion to this calling, despite personal risk and losses, is truly heroic. MSF trauma centres were seriously damaged by the quake. Latest announcements confirm the quake killed 4 Haitian MSF staff; 4 others who’d recently worked with them also died; 6 are still missing. They just rolled up their sleeves and moved their treatment clinics to tents and mobile centres in the open. Their staff has a good sense of what’s going to be needed in the short term as well as how much the rehabilitation of emergency and other healthcare in the country will cost in the long term. As the worldwide generosity continues, donations to their Emergency Relief Fund give MSF the maximum flexibility to respond directly where it’s most needed in Haiti, while ensuring they can still act rapidly should another disaster strike.

Meanwhile the world is distracted from so many other areas where lives continue to be ravaged by unbelievable cruelty. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo it is more dangerous to be a woman or a child than a combatant, as women and girls remain targets for violence. Despite the supposed formal cease of hostilities, several armed groups still use sexual violence as a weapon of war. Physical and economic insecurity still characterize the lives of women and girls and the threat of and the use of violence are constants. Discrimination against women and girls underlies the violence perpetrated against them, and the current climate of impunity allows the many forms of gender-based violence, including sexual violence, to flourish. For more information, please see: MSF Top Ten Humanitarian Crises of 2009: DRC and V-DAY: Sexual Violence In the DRC

I have re-purposed Campanula to raise funds and support for the ongoing crisis of women and children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
To obtain the CAMPANULA FOR THE CONGO pattern, simply make a donation in any amount to V-day at Donate to V-Day. Then notify me here or on Ravelry and I will send you the pattern.

Contrasts

2010-01-25T12:22:00.001-05:00

I just returned from a whirlwind week of singing and fun in New York, where I participated in a vocal competition. I had the pleasure to reconnect with long-lost family and friends both new and old, I got to absorb some art and culture, and I went to a Broadway show - A Little Night Music.

Now, I am a very picky theatre-goer and I tend to hold very high standards as an audience member so pardon me while I simply GUSH: If you are in NYC you must (absolutely, unequivocally MUST) go to see A Little Night Music. It is magnificent! Brilliant in the seamlessness and economical simplicity of it's staging and beautifully crafted, nuanced and wonderful performances from everybody! It's at the Walter Kerr (on 48th St). Even if the only ticket you can get is expensive - it's worth it. It is as close to a perfect production as I have ever witnessed. If I did not have to come back rehearsals and performances of my own, I would have extended my stay over the weekend to see it another two or three times!

While I was away, in response to the horrific crisis in Haiti, I pledged to match dollar-for-dollar the money I spend on myself that week with a donation to Doctors without Borders and Haitian relief efforts - and I challenged everyone on my Facebook page to do the same! I had no secure internet connection while away, so the total will be donated now, and I have to say it's a whopper!

I am also instigating further efforts to raise funds and support for this cause as well as the ONGOING crisis of women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where despite the supposed formal cease of hostilities, several armed groups still use sexual violence as a weapon of war. In the DRC it is more dangerous to be woman than a combatant as women and girls remain targets for violence. Physical and economic insecurity still characterize the lives of women and girls and the threat of and the use of violence are constants, discrimination against women and girls underlies the violence perpetrated against them, and the current climate of impunity allows the many forms of gender-based violence, including sexual violence, to flourish.

Some of you may also know me as MezzoDiva the Operatic Knitaholic, as well as the designer of the Campanula for the Cure and Hibiscus for Hope sock patterns, which together with some very sore muscles, blistered feet and 60 km (twice) helped me raise some $13,500.00 for The Weekend to End Breast Cancer in 2007 & 2008.

Well, if I can scrape together some time this week, I intend to reformat and re-release those patterns as Hibiscus for HAITI and Campanula for the CONGO. It may have to wait a few days, though as I just returned from an exciting but strenuous week of vocal endeavours in NYC, I am juggling assorted family crises and medical emergencies (my 90 year-old mother-in-law is due to be released from a 3 week stay in the hospital this week) and I just dove into rehearsals for an upcoming opera and for the Quintimacy concert next weekend.

With the agreement of the artists, all proceeds from Quintimacy's upcoming salon will be donated to Médecins Sans Frontières, whose efforts in Haiti have been in demand both before the catastrophic earthquake> on January 12, 2010 and since then.

MSF's devotion to this calling, despite personal risk and losses, is truly heroic. MSF trauma centres were seriously damaged by the quake. Latest announcements confirm the quake killed 4 Haitian MSF staff; 4 others who'd recently worked with them also died; 6 are still missing. They just rolled up their sleeves and moved their treatment clinics to tents and mobile centres in the open. Their staff has a good sense of what's going to be needed in the short term as well as how much the rehabilitation of emergency and other healthcare in the country will cost in the long term. As the worldwide generosity continues, donations to their Emergency Relief Fund give MSF the maximum flexibility to respond directly where it’s most needed in Haiti, while ensuring they can still act rapidly should another disaster strike.

Hibiscus "Day Out" Contest Winners!

2008-10-17T11:29:00.004-04:00

Hi there! MezzoDiva here with your belated contest report.

teribella posted (in the comments for the Contest post) about her Hibiscus sock's adventures as mother's helper at church, after school and at the dentist. Affectioknit wore her socks to the library/shopping/errand-running/biking. And last but not least, rxknitchic's Hibiscus-in-progress got their artistic groove on when they went to the Art League and to the kids art class with her girls.

In my capacity as official Knitters for Knockers arbiter of contests, I have decided that ALL THREE of these participants will receive a prize for their eager participation. As such I will be sending something special and appropriate for them to all the winners.

It seems we haven't had a lot of action as a KAL here at Knitters for Knockers. Ravelry seems to have taken the stuffing out of off-site KALs in general, but that's okay because it serves as a wonderful vehicle for disseminating news and generating enthusiasm and sharing ideas about patterns. Quite frankly I've personally hit several big bumps in the road in recent months which are finally working out okay, but have left me feeling drained as a dishrag. Though we have a Ravelry group too, I just haven't had any gumption to spare to get my pompoms out, hoot and hollar and lead the pep-squad the way I did last year.

I fully intend to continue my commitment to this cause and devise further patterns to raise money and awareness in the battle against breast cancer, but I'm not sure how best to move forward with this webpage. I'd appreciate getting your feedback about whether you think we should continue as a KAL, or perhaps alter the function of this site to an information centre reporting further Knitters for Knockers related news and events. Please let me know, either in private email or here. I am open to discussion.

Thanks again for everybody's enthusiasm and support.
Best Knitterly Regards,
MezzoDiva

Ta Da!...

2008-10-17T09:09:00.002-04:00

Finally finished...Love the pattern!

I can't wait to see if there will be a pattern for next year!

Socks about town

2008-10-16T10:50:00.007-04:00

I know I am late for the contest, but I wanted to show you my sock about the town. Hibiscus for hope went to the Art League and to the kids art class with my girls. As you can see, Mo wasn't too happy about holding the sock. She would much rather be painting her head. My sock is now on hold as I broke my size 0 harmony wood circular and am waiting for new ones in the mail. I am going through sock withdrawal. I am almost done with the ankle on the 2nd sock and will finish them together.

Hibiscus for hope

2008-10-05T14:25:00.003-04:00

Dear Mezzodiva, this is the first time I've posted to a blog so I hope I'm following the steps correctly! I would love to get the pattern for the hibiscus for hope socks. I made a contribution to sponsor you back in August but didn't pursue getting a copy of the pattern. I would love to be able to make a pair of these socks for my next door neighbor who lost her sister (who was also a neighbor and friend) to breast cancer last year. Is it still possible to get a copy of the pattern? thanks! Lnknits

Hibiscus-for-Hope's Day Out

2008-09-22T16:16:00.000-04:00

I wore my Hibiscus-for-Hope socks to the library/shopping/errand-running/biking on Saturday. I wore shorts even though it was a little bit chilly for shorts - just to show them off better - mine were a perfect match for khaki shorts and a white cotton top. Someone actually said 'I love your socks' - does it get any better? So of course I said 'Thank You - I knitted them myself' - and they were appropriately amazed...

So I told her about the pattern - I don't think she knits but she could just make a donation too. I have already blogged about the pattern at my site and the Vegan Sock KAL site so now I have also emailed the link to my friend knitting friends...

Hibiscus-for-Hope’s Day Out CONTEST!!!

2008-09-14T15:19:00.004-04:00

The time has come for our first contest! The theme for this will be to take your Hibiscus-for-Hope socks out in public for some show off time! The socks can be works in progress or can be already completed - as long as they're out showing off and having a fantastic time!

So get ready to take your Hibiscus-for-Hope out in public and spread the word about the pattern and KAL and the purpose behind them: raising money and awareness for the fight to end cancer forever!

I take my knitting projects with me every day to work - I knit on the bus, on my breaks, at lunch and then again on the bus ride home. Every day someone asks about what I am making and I'm happy to chat about the pattern or the project or about why I'm addicted to knitting. So my second Hibiscus-for-Hope is going along for the ride!

Your mission, should you accept it, is to take Hibiscus-for-Hope out with you at least once in the next 10 days and tell someone or several someones about our foot-related fundraiser (a sock pattern KAL to raise sponsorship donations for The Weekend to End Breast Cancer).

ANY PLACE YOU CHOOSE TO DO IT IS GREAT. If you work at a LYS, if you go to a knit-night,SnB or other gathering of fiber-enthusiasts, those would be a VERY good places to spread the word, as other knitters will be intrigued - especially once they see your lovely socks in progress. Or do something else. Take them out and knit anywhere you want. Be as creative or mundane as you wish - knit them on the bus, at the park, on your lunch break, at a party, on the treadmill at the gym (I can't, but know there are people who do this!).

The Hibiscus-for-Hope socks have already had many summer adventures. Examples range from the Yarn Harlot's early-August adventures in Newfoundland, Affectioknit's recently posted trip to the lake while test-knitting, and Ellie's (Crazy for Knitting) summer road-trip. Now that fall is here maybe they would like to take a trip to the apple farm or a road trip to enjoy the changing leaves. Maybe they would enjoy a romantic dinner out in a restaurant with a roaring fire . . . The possibilities are endless . . . !

It would just be great if you could enlist more support for our mutual fundraising efforts. Even if your audience are not knitters themselves, they might be inspired to contribute by donating to the WEBC, so bring some spare copies of the donation info with you on a piece of paper. And tell them to credit you as their contact because you could win a prize.

So take your Hibiscus-for-Hope socks out with you and show them around. Then post about it by ~~Wednesday, September 24, 2008~~ EDIT/MezzoDiva: contest deadline extended to Friday, October 10, 2008. Tell us all about YOUR Hibiscus-for-Hope Day Out. Report on your Hibiscus-for-Hope adventures in the wide wide world both here and at your blog!

And what would a contest be without a prize? For this contest the prize will be a skein of yarn generously donated by Maggie from her indie shop Dyed in the Wool Handmade! Thanks so much Maggie! The winner will be determined by a random draw from all of the eligible entries.

Have fun!

Hibiscus for Hope

2008-09-11T10:35:00.000-04:00

I had to wait to publish these pictures until the new pattern for Knitters for Knockers was up - but then I sat on them for a while after that - so sorry.

I worked on these while we were at the lake and I had packed several different sized needles and my yarn as Mezzodiva was going to email the pattern.

The pattern was written for two circular needles and I had only brought dpns so I had to do a little adapting.

but it worked out just fine.

I love them!

More Knitters for Knockers info

2008-09-10T12:30:00.000-04:00

Crazy4Dyeing Etsy Shop Announcement: 15% of sales of Crazy4Dyeing yarn destined for Hibiscus for Hope socks will be donated to Toronto Weekend to End Breast Cancer to sponsor the designer of the patternwalking 60-km over two days. Please make a comment when you check out that you’ll be making these socks.

P.S. Come over and join the Knitters for Knockers Ravelry group, a gathering place for those of us walking in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer, and for fiberholics who are supporting us by knitting the Campanula for the Cure and the Hibiscus for Hope socks.

Knitters for Knockers:
knitting together to make cancer history!

For Hibiscus Hopefuls...

2008-09-10T12:15:00.001-04:00

There seems to be a little confusion about how to get the pattern. To get your very own copy of the Hibiscus for Hope sock pattern, all you have to do is sponsor me for the 2008 Weekend to End Breast Cancer, supporting the Princess Margaret Hospital, Canada's leading centre for cancer treatment and a world leader in cancer research.

Here’s the link to my personal page at the WEBC - you should be able to sponsor me directly there. You can also go to the main site for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer, then click on Toronto, then click on Sponsor a Participant, and enter my name: Ramona Carmelly.

It will ask for your name and credit card number and other details. Please put HIBISCUS in the comments (though in the last few days I’m assuming every sponsor has come looking for the sock pattern via the grace of the Yarn Harlot and I’m sending it anyway).

The WEBC site will send me a notification that I’ve received a new donation and I follow it back to get the name and email of the donor.

(note: this entry post-dated to make it sticky)

Introducing: “Hibiscus for Hope”

2008-09-08T12:00:00.006-04:00

an elegant sock inspired by ThatLoganChick’s Agatha shawl
designed for the fight to end breast cancer
Starting from a toe-up construction (magic loop or 2 circular needles recommended), the sinuous lace motif (a variant of a lace design found in Leili Riemann’s Pitsilised Koekirjad) begins from a point somewhat above the toe-box, expands across the instep and ultimately wraps gracefully around the ankles after the heel to meet itself in the back and continue up around the leg. The comfortable arch-hugging heel combines the under-heel gusset increases from Cat Bordhi’s Riverbed architecture with Wendy Johnson’s short-rowed heels to accommodate a high or wide instep.

A few tantalizing images from my intrepid testknitters:

To get the pattern, all you have to do is sponsor me for the upcoming 2008 Weekend to End Breast Cancer, and put HIBISCUS in the message.
(note: this entry post-dated to make it sticky)

Hibiscus for Hope Button - now available

2008-08-23T18:30:00.006-04:00

Amy made this lovely button to share with all Hibiscus for Hope knitters and supporters.

I have to say that I am delighted with the enthusiastic responses for the pattern and all the lovely examples of Hibiscus socks that are popping up on Ravelry, and for the warm and generous the support everyone has shown for this fundraising effort.

I've received a tremendous outpouring of support for the walk and also many notes from people about their own battle with cancer or that of a loved one, and some about their loss of close friends or family members to cancer. I wish you could read some of the moving personal stories people impart in the messages with their donations. I will try to figure out the best way to share them here.

P.S. Please stand by for further action here regarding the KAL and related contests (yes, my darlings, there will be prizes). I'm a bit behind on my plans for this, occupied with some personal events at present that require all my immediate attention and have assumed slightly overwhelming proportions:
In short, I am trying to (a) plan my wedding, (b) train for a 60-km walk, (c) unclutter my home life, and (d) sort through 4 years of financial records for tax returns, all in the next two weeks.

KnittingAlchemy's Hibiscus for Hope Socks

2008-08-11T22:05:00.007-04:00

MezzoDiva has gifted me with an invitation to guest author this blog and I’m only too happy to oblige. I’m sure she’s working hard to get ready for her 60K walk/run in September, a Herculean effort for a great cause. I thought I’d share a day in the life of my Hibiscus for Hope socks. I’m knitting them up in Crystal Place Yarns’ Maizy, which is 82% corn fibre and 18% elastic nylon. It’s soft and stretchy and yummy.

MezzoDiva developed this pattern from one by my stitch & bitch buddy, Rebecca, who designed the beautiful Agatha shawl. I fell hard for that one too, MezzoDiva. Anyway, Hibiscus for Hope is the sexiest sock pattern I’ve ever seen with its sensuous angles and its luscious laciness, and I can’t wait to finish mine. Click here to make a donation and receive this pattern.

Hibiscus for Hope Diary: August 10, 2008

Yesterday, my husband and I decided on the spur of the moment to rip up to Jasper for the afternoon. Jasper is four hours away in the Rocky Mountains. It’s been twenty years since we saw Jasper and we were both very excited to be going. The drive up and back afforded me hours of time on my socks. I had one toe done and was keenly working my way up the sock toward the pattern part.

Sixty stitches, round and round on my two circs. The views were stunning and the needles were flying (except when I discovered the hole I made with a yarn over…I’ve been doing a lot of lace work lately…these yarn overs seem to be involuntary…in fact, this is the second perfect little hole I’ve created involuntarily on these socks, but I digress).

There I was, singing along to the radio, knitting away, enjoying the feel and colour and action of every stitch, watching as the prairies turned to foothills, the foothills began to be dotted with small rocks here and there, and suddenly seeing and being in the middle of the mountains. The beauty and sheer size of these rock formations really take your breath away. They remind me that I’m but a small part of this earth. They exude a solid strength and I take great energy from them.

Back to the sock. It was around the time that the prairies turned to foothills that I reached the point in the sock where I could start the patterning. How exciting! When I reached into the Ziploc bag that held the sock accoutrements for the pattern I realized the pattern was sitting on my dining room table at home. Sigh. I had pulled it out of the Ziploc bag the night before to read ahead in the pattern and had forgotten to put it back. In our spontaneous dash out the door I didn’t give it a thought. I had the Ziploc baggie with the wool and partial sock in it. I threw in an extra ball of the yarn because I wouldn’t want to run out. There was paper in the bag but it turned out to be a Movie Gallery print out. Isn’t that the way it goes? Throw in a Crayola “burnt orange” for marking rows and you’ve got the full domestic picture.

Luckily, I brought back-up knitting. I worked on the Victorian lace scarf I’m making for our adopted daughter who lives in Inuvik. In winter, the kids wear their parkas in school all day because the building can’t be heated enough. She’s actually a friend of my daughter’s but we love her too and consider her one of our own. The pattern is “Scarf with a wide and handsome border,” found in Jane Sowerby’s Victorian Lace Today. I’m knitting it with Fiddlesticks JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool-Silk in the colour Jade.

In Jasper, we did the stroll down the main drag where all the souvenir shops are and I was a very good girl. The only thing I bought was a pretty bag for my knitting, and it was 50% off. (The Ziploc bags work great but the statement they make really isn’t me.)

After our stroll we had a lovely dinner of rainbow trout before setting off home. The sun behind us lit up the landscape we drove through making the drive home as lovely as the drive up. I continued to knit the scarf until the sun went down.

My Hibiscus for Hope socks’ journey will continue. I may print out a few extra copies of the pattern and place them strategically in both our vehicles, in my purse, in my knitting bag, and anywhere else I may be inspired to look for it the next time I leave it sitting on the dining room table.

Best wishes to you MezzoDiva in your walk, and thanks for championing this important cause.

A little Hi(biscu)story

2008-08-09T09:07:00.008-04:00

Are you sitting down? Good.
Because I have a shocking confession to make:
It's my pattern, but it's not originally my design.

(Gasp!)

I was fiddling with ideas for the pattern off and on since mid-winter, but to no satisfaction. Though I unwittingly managed to reinvent any number of lovely sock patterns that are out and about these days (aaargh!), I just wasn't able to make any of my original inspirations comply with my requirements for a new pattern that would: keep the basic construction of the sock fairly simple so that sock-neophytes won’t be scared off, but hopefully introduce some new structural ideas to a few people in a simple and fun way, while letting an intriguing but still easy to accomplish lace do most of the talking so that sock-experts will want to play too.

I did give it several valiant tries, but frankly in recent months all my creative juices were flowing in musical directions, all my brain cells were otherwise occupied and in overdrive (preparing for the then-upcoming opera performances) so that all I could do competently with sticks and string was knit rounds and rounds of mindless stockinette. Even the simplest short-row toe was truly a challenge because my brain was just too full.

Meanwhile, way back in Januray I came across That Logan Chick's gorgeous Agatha shawl on Etsy, and I fell hard. I was completely enthralled. I immediately ordered the pattern (as well as a couple of her beautiful beaded shawl pins). Though unable to commit to a shawl project at the time, I was nevertheless besotted, completely under the spell of that pattern, unable to stop dreaming about it, scribbling its name lovingly in the margins of my opera scores, sketching its motif in my diary...

In late spring, as I wrestled with the umpteenth idea for my 2008 Knitters for Knockers sock, I started tinkering with ideas for using the Agatha shawl motif in a sock and couldn’t think in any other direction. After much frustration (and the near demolition of a perfectly lovely skein of Fleece Artist sock yarn from frequent ripping and reknitting and ripping and reknitting...) it occurred to me that really I was (oh, fer heaven's sake, again?!) trying to reinvent and codify something that had already been created beautifully by someone else - and I love her version of it so much that I could never be content with any poor imitation I would make.

I wisely decided to put it aside and sleep on it.

I woke up the next day and realized I'd been operating under a false assumption. I mistakenly believed that because it’s my fundraising program, I have to be the sole designer (pardon the pun) for this endeavour. Of course my ego was egging me on, whispering insidiously that I had to come up with something brilliant and beautiful like last year's pattern Campanula for the Cure and I had to do it all by myself.

Well, I'd been reading a lot of Eckhart Tolle lately. Somehow, his words of wisdom afforded me just enough detachment to see through the egoic trap of my non-existent dilemna. Aknowledging the simple yet profound error in my thinking was quite liberating! (Though I am still sheepishly succumbing to an ego-driven desire to state that I bought the book last year, before the big Oprah-induced phenomenon, but I had a few other books on the night-table ahead of it and I only got around to reading it this spring).

I promptly sat down at my computer and sent an email to Rebecca, the brilliant creator of that shawl I love so much, asking her to be my guest designer for the Knitters for Knockers 2008 campaign and I'm thrilled to report she was happy to oblige! Rebecca not only generously allowed me to borrow the motif, she pointed me to her own prototype Hibiscus sock AND graciously sent me her notes (for a size 11 sock - gulp!) and all her charts.

I must admit the road from there to a clear instructive pattern for public consumption that would allow most sock knitters to make their own was still a long and occasionally arduous one as the conceptual steps were easy to imagine but a lot harder to articulate. But now that it’s done, tested and vetted by my faithful team of experts, and revised and edited to within an inch of its life and mine, I am SO proud to reveal it to you in all its glory.

I know I am biased, but it's a beautiful sock pattern and I hope you'll love it as much as I do. If you're intrigued, please sponsor me now for the 2008 Toronto Weekend to End Breast Cancer. I'll send you the pattern as soon as I get notice of your donation. Or, better yet, go check out Knitters for Knockers, and join us for for this profoundly empowering life-altering experience.

Can't wait to start!

2008-08-05T13:12:00.003-04:00

When I saw the pattern, I used it as an excuse to buy both "Socks Soar on two Circs" and "New Pathways" from KnitPicks (40% off all books until the 8th). I'll be knitting this one in gloss burgundy. I love the pattern, and it's a more satisfying knit knowing that the money I'm paying for such a beautiful pattern is going to an excellent cause. I still have one of my campanula socks to knit, but they're such *satisfying* knits that I take my time. I can't wait to get my needles and such, and will try to get pics up as I go along!

It's done!

2008-07-26T17:31:00.001-04:00

Ta da!

Sneak Peek - new Sock Pattern coming up for the Knitters for Knockers campaign 2008 and a detour for another very good cause.

2008-07-22T01:35:00.001-04:00

Psst. Hey. Look over here. Yes, you! Check it out.
Pretty, no? Dare I say - even sexy?
Come on. You know you want it!

My brilliant guest designer and I are in the final stages of creating the pattern for you and then I can reveal it (and her) to you in all its (her) glory. I'm so excited! It's a beautiful sock and I hope you'll love it as much as I do.
If you're intrigued by this sneak peek, please go ahead and sponsor me now for the 2008 Toronto Weekend to End Breast Cancer. I'll send you the pattern as soon as it's been tested, tech-edited and made ready for public consumption. Or, better yet, go check out Knitters for Knockers, and join us for for this profoundly empowering life-altering experience.

A Little Help. Please.

2008-06-24T20:08:00.007-04:00

I just finished tech-editing the new Knitters for Knockers 2008 pattern (Whew! It was a tough slog, but I think I'm done.) and it’s now in the hands of my test-knitters (may a thousand blessings be upon them and their needles).
(Happy dance! Do it with me!)What better way to celebrate than by immediately whipping up another sexy new sock pattern for yet more worthwhile fundraising! So far I have a toe. It's a lovely toe, but there's nothing new to see yet. (Soon, my lovelies, soon...). In the meantime, I have repurposed our lovely Campanula sock pattern from last year to aid this cause as well.

The beneficiary of all proceeds from the repurposed Campanula pattern and from my other forthcoming pattern will be the brave and beautiful Tish. Tish is at the end of an amazing weight-loss journey that began last summer with gastric bypass surgery.
Tish before - June 2007
Tish after - June 2008
Now she requires extensive and expensive reconstructive surgeries to tighten and trim some of the, er, um, leftover bits. It's a so-called "cosmetic cleanup" of all the hanging skin and residual leftovers that (in my not-so-humble opinion) is totally necessary to quality of life, but it’s not covered by Ontario’s much vaunted health care system.

Okay, that's not strictly true. Though our provincial medical plan would pay for a crude tug-slice-&-sew version of the procedure that leaves some nasty scars (I’ve seen the results on other folks), they will not contribute that equivalent or any portion of the costs to getting it done properly. Nope. That would be too much like right. (Sorry - maybe that was TMI. Can you tell I’m just a little bit angry about this?).

Tish needs to raise an astounding $31,000 for reconstructive surgery.

Frankly after all her hard work and suffering, Tish deserves to have this done right and feel good about herself afterwards! So several friends are banding together to initiate our own fundraising venture to help defray some of the costs. We’ll be offering some Tish-inspired patterns as incentive for donations to her surgery fund.

Of course you don’t have to wait until the patterns are up. Please go over to visit Tish and read about her phenomenal journey over the last year or so. Then click and donate whatever you can to help.

Shelda - please send me an email.

2008-05-14T18:05:00.006-04:00

Shelda from the comments (who wants to knit the Campanula-for-the-Cure sock pattern for a friend with cancer): I have no contact info for you.

The comments have your name but there's no link to a blog profile or email address. Please email me at "mezzodiva-AT-sympatico-DOT-ca". If you provide an email address I would be happy to send you the pattern for you to make a pair for your friend. I wish it were under better circumstances. And please join the KAL (I will send an invitation using your email address) to share your story here and let us know how your friend is doing. And let your friend know we all send her our warmest wishes, love and support.

Knitterly Regards
XO - MezzoDiva

Welcome to our Campanula for the Cure KAL

2008-05-13T23:59:00.000-04:00

This knit-along evolved from a foot-related fundraiser, a pretty lace sock pattern called Campanula for the Cure which I offered to my sponsors for the 60-km walkathon The 2007 Weekend to End Breast Cancer.

Click here to be redirected to the post with more details. To get the pattern, just sponsor me by donating any amount. Then grab a button from the sidebar, get your needles and your yarn and knit yourself up a pair!

Please CLICK HERE TO SPONSOR ME FOR 2008 since I am (insanely) getting ready to do it all over again!

I’m also going to come up with a new pattern for next year.(Sheesh! Okay, getting my thinking cap on). This KAL will continue for all of us who are still knitting our Campanulas, so please go ahead and knit up a pair and share them with the knit-blogging universe.

If you're a new sponsor and still want THIS pattern, please let me know by putting CAMPANULA in the message line of the donation. If you want the NEW (forthcoming) pattern, please put NEWPATTERN in the message line.

Knitters for Knockers in 2008!

2008-05-12T23:59:00.000-04:00

The 2007 WEBC is over, but the fight continues.

Last year, 5,521 walkers, the largest number in the event’s five year history, and several hundred wonderful volunteer crew and support people, participated AND raised more than $17.3 million for breast cancer research and care!

The 6th annual Toronto Weekend to End Breast Cancer benefiting Princess Margaret Hospital is planned for September 5-7, 2008.

I have already registered for next year AND I am just now working out the final details for a new sock pattern to use in my fundraising campaign. If you want to get in ahead of the game click here to sponsor me and I promise to send you the pattern as soon as it's ready. (If you want to be a testknitter, please leave me a comment here.)

I am also starting a team to walk with me in 2008: "Knitters for Knockers!" Everyone is welcome: knitters and crocheters, weavers and spinners, and even those who are not fibre-fanatical (though we can’t promise not to attempt to lure you over to the yarn side).

As we train through the year, we’ll set up a flexible buddy system so that faster walkers can go at their pace and slower ones at theirs, but everybody will have someone with them throughout training and the walk for both company and safety. I'll definitely be planning some extended yarn-crawls… downtown like last time but then also to the beaches, etc.

60 more in 2008! click here to join us for this profoundly empowering life-altering experience. Let's work together to make cancer history!

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
-- Anne Frank (12 June 1929 – ? March 1945)

Getting started

2008-03-22T14:42:00.008-04:00

I've had my pattern since the beginning of the month, I then went in search of the yarn, I wanted a rose color.
I was a bit intimidated by the short row toe, heel thing and could not fathom it when I looked over and read the instructions. After overcoming my crisis of faith (I dove in), I am now on my way and I have to say I LOVE this pattern.
Working both socks, here is my progress. I am working on a few other projects as well.

A Little Contest!

2008-02-22T09:02:00.003-05:00

I'm having a little contest on my blog to celebrate my one year anniversary! Come on over and play!

Lisa L.

Campanula - FO

2008-02-08T11:17:00.000-05:00

I finally finished my Campanula's yesterday - YAY! I love them - they are so pretty and delicate - the stitch definition is lovely...

It's kinda hard to take pictures of your own ankles...

see a matched set...

I'm thinking of dyeing them pink for the Walk for the Cure in April - what do you think?

It's Finally Done!

2008-02-05T18:00:00.000-05:00

I finished the socks. Finally. It only took me about a, ahem, year.

They are knit up out of Appelaine yarn. This stuff is beautiful!

Campanula #1 complete

2007-12-27T14:51:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas everyone. With all the Christmas knitting, my Campanulas have been languishing in my knitting bag for a while - but I finished the first sock and I love it - this is Bernat's Cool Cotton and I love the stitch definition - and they are really soft and comfy. I can't wait to finish the second sock - Our Walk for the Cure will be in April - so I'm sure they'll be finished by then...

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday!

2007-12-27T07:17:00.001-05:00

Merry (belated) Christmahanukwanzakah!! (or Diwali/Deepavali, Yalda, Eid, Dong Zhi...whatever!) Happy Winter-Solstice Festival(s) of your choice! (I've decided to enjoy them all, please pass the nog.)

Oy to the world!
Love to all, XOX - MezzoDiva

Campanula FO

2007-12-04T10:08:00.001-05:00

My Campanula socks are finally complete. I used Tofutsie and I must admit I don't think I would use this yarn for this pattern again. However, I am not sure how fair an assessment that is since I don't believe I will ever use this yarn again for anything. I don't really care for it. I do believe, though, that the pattern needs a wool yarn. Having said that, I am pleased with the overall fit but I don't think it will do such a good job of holding up the shape in this yarn.

One of these days I am going to have to re-knit this pattern again in a wool yarn.

socks for a good cause

2007-11-23T09:40:00.001-05:00

HEY ALL - just joined , better late then never - recieved my pattern from ramona today - will pick out the yarn, can't wait to start

pat j

So far behind.

2007-11-22T14:00:00.001-05:00

To everybody who is waiting for a swap-package/contest-prize/blog-post acknowledging your magnanimity/email/answer (and perhaps a word or two about my knitting) - please please PLEASE accept my heartfelt humblest apologies and assurances that it's all still underway or on the way.

I am having a little trouble (*ahem* - understatement) digging out from the (literal and figurative) avalanche of obligations and the piles of debris (not to mention the basic life-supporting chores) that were dropped when I was sick and then compounded by the recent spate of concerts.

Soon, my friends. Soon.

New to KAL...

2007-11-10T11:37:00.003-05:00

Hi! I just got my pattern, and two skeins of Knit Picks Gloss in Woodland Sage. I'm really looking forward to casting on and knitting these socks up!

First Toe-Up Heel

2007-11-06T12:12:00.000-05:00

I turned the heel on my first toe up sock and I think it's a pretty neat heel - I'm really happy with it and this soft comfy cotton yarn too...

Campanula Progress

2007-10-29T11:34:00.000-04:00

I'm just about ready to turn the heel on my first Campanula.

I'm using Bernat's Cool Cotton in white and they are so pretty and lacy - they'll be perfect for next spring/summer. I may even be tempted to wear them with sandals - something I never do...

Contest #4 - Pay it Forward - Winners!!!

2007-10-28T18:32:00.000-04:00

I am finally here to post the winners for contest number 4. Since only four people actually posted their contest entries, I decided that all four should be winners of this contest. Thank you and congratulations to H-star, Carol, Lisa L, and Affectioknitter. Winners - please contact me at mezzodiva AT sympatico DOT ca with your mailing address so that I can arrange to get your prizes to you ASAP.

Though only four of you posted here regarding your "pay it forward" projects, I hope many of you were somehow inspired by this contest to think about what you can do and look for opportunities to make a difference in your world in your own way, whatever it may be.

My Cure "Pay It Forward"

2007-10-24T14:06:00.000-04:00

Ramona has been kind enough to encourage us to share our stories here. I thought I'd take her up on the invitation and post a video link. My surgeon contacted me a few weeks ago to ask if I'd be willing to do an interview for a local news station related to breast cancer. They wanted to find someone who had been diagnosed through mammography. I decided to go ahead and really "go public". If it encourages even just one woman to pick up the phone and make an appointment, it will be worth it.

So here I am, new short CURLY GRAY hair and all!

http://www.fox23news.com/mediacenter/local.aspx

Click on the link and then go to October Buddy Check Reminder.

Lisa L :-)

Moving Right Along

2007-10-22T22:50:00.001-04:00

My goal this past weekend was to get the heel turned on the second Campanula sock. Ta Da!

Nothing happened on it today, I'm afraid. I'm shampooing the carpet and I'm wiped.

Soon, I hope, soon it will be done!

I'm Ba-a-a-a-ack!

2007-10-18T16:05:00.001-04:00

Don't pay the Ransom! I escaped!

No, really, I wasn't kidnapped. I've just been delayed by the lingering effects of the nasty flu from which I am still recovering, and swamped with all the work that got delayed while I was sick. I have done very little knitting and still haven't entered anything on Ravelry, though I accepted my invitation three weeks ago.

But please don't feel too sorry for me! I did actually manage to finish a Campanula sock that I am making for myself. That's right. You heard me. These babies are MINE!
This was photographed early last night at Knitomatic SnB and I then completed another half pattern repeat and the cuff's twisted ribbing, so all I need to do now is cast off and make another one. Despite the photographic evidence, it's actually a perfect fit. It's being modelled here by the lovely Shelna whose feet are a half size longer and whose ankles and calves are much slimmer than mine are.

I'm just a little busy for another couple of days, but I wanted to drop in here to say a quick "Hi!" to all of you and I promise to post the winners of Contest number 4: Pay it Forward ASAP (The MezzoDiva is swamped right now). Meanwhile enjoy the lovely fall weather - such terrific inspiration to knit wonderful wooly things!

Just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2007-10-17T21:21:00.001-04:00

Now that we are all awash in Pink this month, here's to helping myself to a gorgeous pair of socks!

These are J.Knits in San Jose. My first toe-up sock and I thought it was going to kill me!

AfternoonMoon http://girlinfox.blogspot.com

Silly Me

2007-10-08T16:15:00.001-04:00

I just spent most of my afternoon working on my second Campanula. I spent so long in one position that my back started to ache!

I believe I have figured out why I kept postponing the casting on of the second sock. Somehow, I had built up in my mind that it was going to be a fiddly knit. Which it isn't. Which I would have known if I had just cast on the second sock right after I finished the first one. But no, I kept putting it off, and the bogeyman kept getting bigger. Until today. I was just sailing along. which is why I didn't realize how long I had been knitting until my back started to complain.

Silly me.

Finally Started Sock Two

2007-10-05T19:16:00.001-04:00

So, waaaaay back in February(?) or thereabouts Mezzodiva asked me to test knit her sock pattern. I was hesitant since I had never done any real lace projects at that point. But I decided to take the plunge and knit up a lovely sock. And stopped. So I had 1 lonely sock.

Due to a chain of unfortunate events, (check my blog if you want the story) recently I found myself looking for a project to cast on. Apparently, a higher power of some sort really wanted me to finish the pair! So, I took the bull by the horns, picked up my needles and cast on.

I am now the proud mother of a toe-cap. Soon to be a sock. One hopes.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, all!

Pay it Forward

2007-10-02T10:38:00.000-04:00

I've received so many blessings in my life...

I'll be taking a group of 1st through 3rd graders to Red Willow Bible Camp http://redwillowbiblecamp.org/index.asp - and I've recruited another woman to help drive. (Neither of us has a child in this age group - so don't think that you can't do things with kids if you don't have any of your own).

I'll be volunteering as Cub Master this year and will help the scouts 'pay it forward' as well. Last night a group of about 10 scouts collected litter in our neighborhood.
I'll be participating in Operation Christmas Child http://www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC.asp?MPGID=1

This one is a lot of fun and kids love to buy the little things to put in the boxes. It helps them to become aware of needy children in the world.

Contest Number Three Extension: keep on Paying it Forward!

2007-09-30T06:05:00.007-04:00

Good Mornin', Campanula!

Well, I must say it's good to be back here in Blogland. I've missed you guys, though I have peaked in on occasion to see some lovely new Campanulas completed! I apologize for my prolonged absence, but it's been a heck of a ride here at casa MezzoDiva for the last three weeks.

Because I have been out of commission and I haven't seen very much action here for Contest Number Three, I am extending the deadline for Pay it Forward postings to October 15th.

Come on, Campanula Campers! Let's see more of your great plans to make our world a better place! Just think of three ways you can contribute to your own community. There are NO other rules than this: Get involved. Think small or think big. Do something for your family, your neighbours, your school, your country, the world. It's up to you. Pledge to make your best effort to engage in an activity or make a plan to support a cause that you consider important. And please remember to cross-post here so we can all see them. Also, while I do try to keep up with each and every one of you, it makes my record-keeping so much easier if I see it here!

And in case you need some inspiration, here's a terrific site I came across recently: My Good Deed.

Drumroll please....

2007-09-26T12:23:00.001-04:00

TA DA! The finished Campanulas:

I LOVE this pattern. Thanks Ramona for coming up with it. Just to recap, the wool I used was Claudia Handpainted in the Baby Doll colourway

Thanks, Ramona!

2007-09-26T09:19:00.000-04:00

I'd like to express my appreciation for my lovely prize for finishing the first Campanulas. The postal service tried to eat the package, but as far as I can tell, all the contents made it.

I got Dream in Color yarn in pale fire, the same colorway I made my Campanulas in, so I think I will use it to make my sister a lovely pair of socks for the holidays. It will be her first time to get two pairs of socks! I know she will like them. I also got a beautiful stitch marker from one of the sponsors--it was very kind of all the sponsors to provide prize material!

I'll keep on reading about people's socks!

I am now SunaSAK on Ravelry if you'd like to be my "friend."

Wa-hoo! Campanula is done!

2007-09-25T13:55:00.000-04:00

Wonderful pattern and a great cause! If you are still knitting your Campanula and have extra yarn consider taking them up to knee high. If I hadn't been so impatient I would have kept going!

And, no, that isn't a white sock underneath that is just how pale my legs are! I guess I should have worn shorts more this summer.

Alice
Ravelry: Justafew

Hello Campanula

2007-09-24T10:52:00.001-04:00

I just started my Campanulas. I've always knit my socks top-down and this is my first time knitting toe-up socks and I'm really excited about it. I did a little research before I started and I've used short rows with wrapped stitches in other garments before so it was pretty straightforward.

I've had this Bernat cool cotton in my stash for a while and wanted something light and lacy for it - I think this pattern will be perfect.

It sure does make a nice roomy toe box - that should be really comfortable...

Pirk's socks

2007-09-24T09:55:00.002-04:00

Sept. 25, 2007:
I changed the picture from yesterday. The socks are now getting the leg part.

Hi,
I am so far behind with my socks, but started working again on them on the weekend.
I had the first one done to the heel turning and now I have the second one as well to the heel (increases).

I am still not sure how to do the heel, unless it's done the same way as the toe part. There are quite a few instructions in the web, and I have printed several of them.

Here is a picture of my second sock.

C'est Fini!

2007-09-23T15:08:00.001-04:00

My Campanula Socks are finished! And they feel great! And on a nice note, I finished them last week just as I was finishing up my last radiation treatment - YAY! Many thanks to Ramona for creating this beautiful pattern and setting up this wonderful KAL!

Still Knitting...

2007-09-18T15:28:00.001-04:00

I realise I've been rather remiss in posting pics of my Campanula's (still in progress). I am going to knit up the leg until I run out of wool.

I love how this pattern knits up, but it's a little hard to do on the bus since I can't seem to memorize the pattern.

I received my prize wool today! It came with a cool stitch marker and I love the name of the colourway: singed tomato...It was the name that sold me:

I think I might turn this wool into a pair of Campanula's as well. If I am able to do the Walk for Breast Cancer here in Ottawa next year, you can be sure I will be wearing the Campanulas!

Finished!

2007-09-14T22:27:00.000-04:00

I finished the Campanula socks tonight! They turned out ok. I made some mistakes but I like 'em. :) And here they are!

Whaddya think?

Robyn

2007-09-12T12:18:00.000-04:00

pay it forward

hey all,

unfortunately i don't have a sock to show off (i've been up to my ears in wedding garments), but i've got a "pay it forward" cross-post!

The fight continues: 60 more in 2008!

2007-09-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

Congratulations! You did it! WOW! You stepped up and out on the street and made a real difference in the fight to end breast cancer. You were an invaluable part of the family of 5,521 participants who raised $17.3 million to support breast cancer research, clinical enhancements and continuation of the Survivorship program at Princess Margaret Hospital.

The Weekend to End Breast Cancer was a huge success for the fifth year in a row - thanks to dedicated people just like you. On behalf of the doctors, researchers, Board of Directors and other staff of Princess Margaret Hospital and The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, we deeply appreciate YOU for making The Weekend such a spectacular success. Because you committed to supporting breast cancer research, thousands of women and men throughout Toronto and Ontario will directly benefit from advancements like the rapid diagnosis pilot program, interoperative radiation clinical trial, the Breast Cancer Survivorship program and leading edge research done at The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research at PMH lead by Dr. Tak Mak and his research team.

Of course, the fight does not end here. The funds our participants have helped raise over the last five years are phenomenal, but cancer is not a five-year problem. Research and cancer breakthroughs take time and money to support and realize The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation has long term goals that require long term funding so we hope you've signed up to keep fighting cancer in 2008! If you have friends who'd like to join you, please invite them to come on out for this amazing journey.

For a limited time, everyone can register for just $25. Make next year the next leg of this wonderful tradition in our community. Tell your friends and family to register for The 2008 Weekend to End Breast Cancer benefiting Princess Margaret Hospital!

Congratulations and thank you so very much for your important contribution to this record-breaking walk! You've made our community very proud.

Visit here for the news release about The Weekend.

Sincerely,

Paul Alofs
President & CEO
Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation

What a world we could make!

2007-09-11T18:04:00.000-04:00

DH posted at I Think: It is time to put aside a few minutes to remember the innocents who were executed on this day in 2001 for the crime of being American, without trial or evidence or representation by counsel. My condolences to the families and friends of these victims, and to the world that has suffered the ongoing consequences of these crimes against humanity.

I couldn't say it any better.

At 5:30 am on Sunday, on my way to Day Two of the recent WEBC, I had the most amazing conversation with a cab driver. He asked me what all these people were doing and why and I explained to him that we were raising money and awareness to combat this scourge that is cancer. We discussed the Weekend and the PMH foundation and recent/imminent breakthroughs in research and treatment. We discussed the sad state of the world, the ubiquitous wars official and unofficial, and our society's all too pervasive culture of impotence, the prevailing impression cultivated by our conglomerate driven economic-political machine, that as individuals most of us are unable to make a difference, so we might as well just slog along as cogs in the system and try to buy ourselves as much consumer-happiness as we can grab to soothe our frustration, but without rocking the boat too much, and please - leave the world-altering decisions and actions to the big boys.

The driver asked many questions about what I was doing and after I told him how deeply moved I was to be a part of this endeavour, how incredibly empowering it was to contribute in even my small way to making this world a better place, he responded in the most profoundly thoughtful, and uncannily appropriate way. He said: "What a world could we make if instead of violence and hatred, all that anger and passion could be channelled into healing and helpful directions, to curing diseases and feeding the hungry and consoling the desolate."

Please remember - this KAL is continuing, and so is Contest Number Three: Pay it Forward. Please let me know when you have posted about your initiatives to make the world a better place. Better yet, cross-post them here so we all can share our ideas and our energy.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: Indeed it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
(16 December 1901 – 15 November 1978)

"If you think you're too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room." - Dame Anita Perella Roddick,DBE
(23 October 1942 – 10 September 2007)

You are MY heroes!

2007-09-10T10:59:00.001-04:00

Thank you for supporting me and the 2007 Toronto Weekend to End Breast Cancer. When the going got tough, your support kept me going.

This was an amazing experience! I am overwhelmed with emotion, spiritually soaring high and I really don't care that I hurt like hell, though I am hysterically amused by my attempts to climb 14 stairs to shower the previous two nights. DH threatened to video-cam my pathetic crawl up the stairs, but I said that if he did I would leave him - once I could move again.

Despite a brutal hill climb in High Park early on day one (staying there 2/3 of the way up was tempting, but not an option), minor heat stroke and sunburn (you know you’re too hot when the Gatorade actually tastes good!), and walking in the cold rain with a minor chest cold (got some hot herbal tea with honey from Starbucks en route), surprisingly few and minor blisters with potential imminent loss of one toenail (there's a blister under it), other body parts chaffing in places I cannot speak of, and every single muscle and joint aching and stiff with possible exception of one beside my right eyebrow… I am so incredibly glad that I did this I cannot describe the depth of my feelings.

I definitely did NOT do the whole 60km.

Some people do the whole 60km. Many people don't, and even experienced veterans of several previous years sometimes call a halt. I don't know precisely how far I went, but I estimate a total of about 45km. On day one I probably covered about 25km. We started with opening ceremonies shortly after dawn, leaving the CNE grounds by 7:15am. I was feeling pretty good until around 3:30pm I was overcome by extreme heat and my blood pressure was spiking (it crept up through the day, was up to 132/89 mid-day, 138/96 mid-afternoon…), so discretion being the better part of valour, I called it a day shortly before 4pm and got swept to the camp.

There are numerous bike patrols and sweep vans with crews that travel back and forth along the route cheering on the walkers and offering support and water refills and blister care, and if you need a break (or if you fall to far back at the end of either day), they will take you to the next pit-stop (or all the way to camp) where there are snacks and/or meals and water and Gatorade and toilets (incredibly good portables) as well as medical personnel, and all kinds of assistance and support.

On day two I probably did another 20km. I woke up around 4:30am with a cough and fighting a chest cold (but surprisingly limber after the first day, though tired). I suspect the extreme exertion of day one undermined my immunity, as I have noticed that in the past after some extreme bike rides or overdoing other workouts. Nevertheless, I was doing okay once I got warmed up and moving. I twisted my right knee mid-morning and went about another 5km unable to keep it in alignment, then I decided not to risk damaging it further and got swept about 2km to the lunch stop.

After lunch it was hard to get moving, but some bandages and stretching banished the blisters and stiffness and I started to feel pretty good. I actually surprised myself by almost finishing the last 14km, but I completely lost it at the last pit stop just south of the CN tower with 3km to go. I was suddenly unable to even cross about a one block distance to the refreshments tent to replenish my water bottle and I just sank onto the bench and wept. I got swept over to outside the Exhibition grounds and walked one last km in from the Princess Gates and through the closing site and the ceremonies.

Day one is over. Please shoot me now.

2007-09-08T21:05:00.001-04:00

Just crawled in the door fresh as day old fish.
Must now attempt to climb 14 stairs to shower.
Ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow …

Vow that next house will have full bath on main floor.
Too tired to write more now.
Love to you all.

XO – MezzoDiva

P.S. I have already registered for NEXT year :0
And I am starting a team: Knitters for Knockers!
If you want to join us in 2008, let me know!

Walking my socks off!

2007-09-06T17:05:00.000-04:00

The Weekend to End Breast Cancer 60-km walk is this weekend.

My training sucks lately. Really - I did a grand total of 15 miles in August. Ugh! That’s less than half of my mileage from way back in January, when we had snow and wind-chill feeling like -30C. But the extreme heat waves and humidity absolutely derailed my summer training plans. And in this last week we’re supposed to cut back and not do much. Hmmm... how do you cut back from zero?

I was really starting to panic about it last week, but after several days of growing apprehension, I examined the anxiety and realized it was simply fear of pain. Once I accepted the fact that I will experience some pain, probably during and definitely after the event, and that's okay, I will get through it, my anxiety level dropped significantly.

At least I can be happy that I covered well over 200 miles since mid-winter! I figure that I walked all day several days in a row when I was singing & traveling in Italy (1999) and I didn't train for all that walking. This can't be a lot worse.

Whatever happens to me this weekend, it's nothing compared to what hundreds of thousands of women face every year. And increasing numbers of men are being diagnosed with this disease as well. I am walking to show my solidarity with these men and women, to help raise awareness and to support the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation.

So I am going for it. I'm just going to go and have fun sharing this experience with a few thousand like-minded persons. What's not to love?

I'll be in touch early next week - once I can move again. Meanwhile, keep those Campanula pix and good wishes coming. They will inspire me when the going gets tough!

Toronto WEBC Route and Cheering Stations

2007-09-06T14:50:00.000-04:00

If you will be in the GTA September 8-9, please come out to cheer me along the way. I would love to see some Campanula for the Cure representation!

Though the location of Opening Ceremonies, Camp, and Closing Ceremonies will be announced well in advance of The Weekend to End Breast Cancer, the route will not be pre-announced. This is strictly a safety precaution as the route may have to change at the last minute due to traffic signal failures, broken water mains, or any other unforseen issues. Therefore, we do not announce the route.

There are however several cheering stations along the way where your friends and family can come and support you along the route of The Weekend to End Breast Cancer® benefiting Princess Margaret Hospital! Tell them to bring their BIG signs, smiling faces and happy cheers to the following sites:

DAY ONE: Saturday, September 8, 2007
Lambton Park: 9 am - 12 pm
4100 Dundas Street West. Street parking.

Rosethorn Junior School: 11 am - 2 pm
2 Remington Drive, SW corner at Rathburn Road.

Elm Park: 1 - 5 pm
SW corner of King and Elm Streets. Street parking.

CAMP: 4:30 pm - Downsview Park, 75 Carl Hall Road.

DAY TWO: Sunday, September 9, 2007
John Ross Robertson Elementary School: 9:30 - 11:30 am
130 Glengrove Avenue West, NE corner at Rosewell Ave.

Nesbitt Park: 12 - 3 pm
just south of Bayview Avenue. Street parking.

CLOSING CEREMONIES: Halls A & B, Direct Energy Centre Exhibition Grounds 4:30 pm
The ceremonies start at 4:30 pm, but feel free to come cheer the Walkers at anytime between 1:30 pm and 4 pm.

Note: These locations may change without notice if the route changes due to last minute detours.

WIP in Worcestershire UK

2007-09-06T05:38:00.004-04:00

This is my first sock done toe up, second attempt at short row heel ( getting it right this time after downloading some great help!)and I love the pattern! I have to confess I made the toe longer as I have long toes & was frightened of snagging the lace or my little toe poking through a gap. Thank you Ramona for your generosity.

Contest 3- Pay it Forward Blog Post

2007-09-05T19:31:00.002-04:00

Come to my Blog and check out my pay it forward ideas!

~Carol~

2007-09-05T15:30:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately I can't make it to the starting line, but in my place please accept the donation of 5 'Fuck Cancer' Subversive Crossstitch Kits to the KAL contest-o-rama.

xox H

Contest Number Three: Pay It Forward!

2007-09-04T18:14:00.000-04:00

As I prepare myself to walk 60 kilometers this coming weekend for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer (gulp!), I've also been pondering what might be another appropriate contest for this knitalong. Inspired by our own Lisa L (scroll to the end of that post), and by the movie (which I have yet to see - but I know the gist of it), I am throwing our collective hats in the ring to share something of ourselves, effect some change and do some good.

For contest Number Three here at Camp Campanula, I am inviting all of you to think of three ways you can pay it forward: specifically, I want you to put on your thinking caps and come up with three ways YOU can contribute to your own community. There are NO other rules than this: Get involved. Think small or think big. Do something for your family, your neighbours, your school, your country, the world. It's up to you.

It doesn't have to be an original idea (I'm rather hoping we can inspire each other), and you are certainly not limited to only three. But please pick three ideas to implement, begin planning now and follow through during the next year.

This contest will remain open until the end of the month - September 30th. After midnight on September 30, I will pick one name randomly form among all the eligible participants and you will receive the lovely prize donated by Mama Llama. But I hope some of you will start sharing your ideas as they come to you, and please post them in a blog entry (instead of the comments) so we can all share the positive energy and inspiration.

And of course, pictures of all your beautiful Campanulas in progress are always welcome.

Update on Robyn's socks

2007-09-04T16:54:00.008-04:00

Here are my socks after doing the heels. he he I had no clue what I was doing! LOL I had never done short row heels before - in fact this is my 2nd pair of socks EVER! he he So for the sock on the left, I followed the written instructions I found online without pictures. I didn't know what it meant about double wraps and knitting 3 together so I ended up decreasing a huge amount! LOL I don't like frogging and I figured, these are for me and it's the heel..eh! So for the 2nd sock on the right, I went to find pictures. OH! THAT's how you do it huh? tee hee So the second one came out right and now I have one sock that needs decreasing and one that needs increasing on teh back side.

But hey! At least the front looks pretty good. :)

One down, one to go

2007-09-04T11:24:00.010-04:00

Yarn: Knitpicks Essential in pumpkin.
Needles: Size 2

I'm off now to get sock two going. But I wanted to say knitting wool socks on a very hot day is fine. Wearing socks on a very hot day to pose for a photo is funny/horrible.

Joining the fray

2007-09-03T21:57:00.002-04:00

I've finally solved my quandry on the yarn to use, thanks to many of you, and have cast on my botanically correct campanulas in Fleece Artist Somoko in Blueberry Mist.

I've done 1.5 pattern repeats and happy so far. I had wanted to have the first sock done in time for Mezzodiva's big walk this weekend, but alas, I have a knitting related injury and have to sit out a few days!

Patience is a Virtue. Forgiveness is Divine.

2007-09-02T19:57:00.000-04:00

Edit: In keeping with my original title above, I have decided to remove the content of this post. Thank you to everyone who commented so kindly. I appreciate all your support more than I can say. You should know that this story did have a positive resolution. Further developments are posted at my blog.

Contest Number Three - Prize Teaser!

2007-08-31T14:48:00.000-04:00

Here is a picture of the prize goodies in the NEXT contest!
400yds of Pure Cashmere yarn with Heartstings pattern. A surprise gift of stitchmarkers will accompany your package (not in photo). Mama Llama is very happy to be a part of such a wonderful cause, and I'm starting my socks soon!

Many thanks to Mama Llama and all our donors for the prizes we can offer here. Please stand by for Contest Number Three Details early this weekend. - MezzoDiva

Contest Number Two - Winners - addendum

2007-08-31T13:19:00.001-04:00

Contest Two Winners - Suna, Rhonda, and Rochelle: please email me at mezzodiva AT sympatico DOT ca and forward your mailing address and a telephone number. Thanks!

Contest Number Two Winners

2007-08-30T05:12:00.000-04:00

As promised we have three winners for contest number two, Campanula's Day Out. The assignment was to take your Campanula socks-in-progress out for a day and show it a good time, while hopefully also showing it off and perhaps attracting other folks to our joint project.

Without further ado, our winners are:

Suna (also the clear front-runner and winner for first pair completed) left a note in the comments detailing her Campanula's adventures out and about. I've copied them here for all to see:
1. Went to LYS Saturday, gave a lady the URL to sign up.
2. Went to "Chicks with Sticks" and told all the women there where she got the pattern.
3. Posted her sock photo on Flickr and people there asked her where to get the pattern, so she sent that off, and also posted the information.
4. Mentioned the socks on a sock knitting email list.
5. Sent an encouraging note to a blogger looking for the right yarn for this project.
6. Knitted on it at high school band "Everything Day" when her sons got their uniforms, etc...
I'd say she wins for the most diverse excursions.

Rochelle took her Campanulas-in-progress to visit the Yarn Harlot last week, which was pretty cool, and she had a great picture taken with Campanula and the YH's travelling sock (our Rochelle has a fabulous smile), which appeared on the Yarn Harlot's blog and attracted several more new folks to our joint venture.

And just yesterday,Rhonda took her Campanula on a fabulous tour of M.I.T. and posted a beautiful pictorial essay of our sock's adventures on campus (sadly no student sudsers were included in the official tour).

Please stand by for the specific prize notices. I am waiting for confirmation/arrival of several prize donations which have been promised but for some reason have not materialized here yet. If they do not arrive in a reasonable time, I promise that I will provide alternatives.

My Campanula Sock goes to work with me

2007-08-30T04:41:00.000-04:00

And takes a tour of M.I.T. ...

I posted a picture tour on my blog Home of the StitchingNut last night but Blogger kept locking up and by the time I got done it was too late to remember I should post a link here. You were all probably in bed by that time anyway. Right?
Come on by today and watch my sock find out what it's like to work at M.I.T.

Now I've got to help my Campanula grow up into a big sock ...

Robyn's Socks

2007-08-28T11:43:00.000-04:00

I started mine yesterday! :) Here is a pic in progress:

I was worried that it wouldn't fit over my super wide feet...but I think it's going to be fine. You can see more info about it on my blog: http://dailyjoy.net/knitblog. I'm using Knit Picks Essential in Pine and size 1 needles. I'm doing 2 socks at a time w/magic loop.

Robyn

Pirk's process

2007-08-28T09:44:00.000-04:00

Hi,
I am way behind with my socks, but I wanted to clear some WIPs out of the
way, and then joyfully knit my Campanula socks.
I have started another sock, just to make sure that I remembered how I did the first toe. I want to finish my socks by next Thursday (Sept. 6th) to show at our Trocks knitting meeting. It's a long weekend coming up, so I should be ok.

Campanula Update - Finished!

2007-08-27T16:37:00.001-04:00

I just finished both Campanula socks! Here are the baby pictures:

They are a bit loose, but they haven't been washed yet and I expect they'll even out nicely. I did try the bind off suggested in the pattern and I like it! Stretchy but not too. The only trouble I had (aside from finding time to knit!) was coming out of the first heel and getting the stitch count right. This is the first pattern I've worked where the stitch count changed and it did confuse me at first. It finally clicked and I got it on the third try and the second heel was a piece of cake! I do love the Smooshy yarn and am glad I have more!

Another Camanula in progress

2007-08-27T10:51:00.000-04:00

I can already tell these socks are going to be pretty!

Yarn: Knitpicks Essential in pumpkin. Needles: Size 2

Progress: My gauge is about half a stitch off which was making for a slightly loose sock (no, I don't own size 1 needles and yes I should)

SO, even though I have a tall foot I did the repeats for a small foot. I just turned the heel and the sock fits really well. It's perfect. Again, thanks for the pattern.

Good luck on the walk and I look forward to seeing more socks in this KAL!

Contest Number Two - Only Three Days Left... (is this thing on?)

2007-08-26T23:59:00.000-04:00

I am absolutely delighted by all the beautiful Campanulas-in-progress you guys are showing me. The last couple of days have apparently seen a flurry of Campanula-knitting and they are ALL very pretty! It makes me very happy to see the pattern I designed giving so many people pleasure.

And as you can tell from the growing totals in the donation area on the sidebars, the contributions to the fight against cancer just keep rolling in, which is both gratifying and terrifying - because I really have to do this 60-km walk and it's coming up in just under two weeks! Eeek!!!! I know it won't kill me, but it is going to be one of the toughest things I have ever done and I am really chicken about the physical pain afterwards. Anybody want to donate a massage for me?

In other news, it seems that (other then me) only two people have taken their Campanulas out for some show-and-tell. At least, only two that I can see from the comments and the postings here: Suna and Rochelle. Suna - also the clear front-runner and winner for FIRST PAIR COMPLETED - left a note in the comments detailing her Campanula's adventures out and about. And Rochelle took her Campanula's to visit the Yarn Harlot, which was pretty terrific, and attracted some more new folks to our joint venture.

Remember, folks, there are three prizes coming this time: There will be one for the most creative entry, one for the greatest number of Campanula outings so far (our girl Suna seems to be in the lead here too), and one random draw from all the eligible entries. But, since only two of you have posted a contest entry, I might just have to keep that third prize for myself...(sigh) ;)

I expect to have a prize notice up soon, courtesy of Mama Llama. She is putting together some lovely stuff for us, like a little kit, with luscious yarn (she has some beautiful cashmere and silk), some matching fancy stitchmarkers and Heartstrings Lace pattern to go with it. She said she will put it together and take some artsy photos of it this weekend, so hopefully we'll see some pix by tomorrow!

So take your Campanulas out with you and show them around. Then post about it by Wednesday, August 29, 2007. Tell us all about YOUR Campanula's Day Out. Report on your Campanula's adventures in the wide wide world both here and at your blog!

Look at my Pretty Pretty Sock!

2007-08-26T22:26:00.000-04:00

I cast on last night finally! I couldn't put it down--before I knew it I had 3 repeats of the pattern:)

I'm using Socks that Rock in Ruby--Hot Pink/Fuschia

What a fun pattern!

Teal!

2007-08-26T19:53:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone! I'm finally going to cast-on and commit to knitting up these socks.

But first, shall we check out the fabulous teal yarn? It's hand-spun, hand-dyed and purchased right here in Calgary from Emily of Twist of Fate

Next step is to do up a swatch to check my gauge. I'm a slow knitter and this is my first knit-a-long. This could take a while...

Pluggin' along...

2007-08-26T19:14:00.000-04:00

I've finished the heels and now it's up the leg to the end. I can't wait to wear these:

oooh.. look!

2007-08-26T17:07:00.001-04:00

I got mine started late friday night.. and by started, I mean I finally managed to get that strange mess of twisted yarn to stay on a needle long enough to get 30 stitches knitted into it so that I could call what I was doing knitting, rather than making a mess which is what I had been forced to call it for a good while before that. :)

today I got the heel in. I'm not done for the day but thunder came so I figured I best get it's picture taken while I could. unfortunately, doing so seems to have chased the thunder away. :(

anyway, I'm finding this somewhat tedious to knit because I'm too scatterbrained to retain the instructions long enough to knit an entire needle so I'm constantly shuffling things around, but I'm so excited to get the heel in and shove my foot in and find that it FITS! hahaha

it's beautiful, too. I'm knitting it of knitpicks new wool/cotton blend, risata and I'm loving the yarn too. lacy cottony socks, I might actually get to wear by the time they're done. :)

thanks, Ramona, for this beautiful pattern, and for doing all this walking for us, and all women. :)

Oh look again! I went to look at the official KAL page and then I went to look at the fundraising total (70% there !!) and then I noticed there's a *chart*!!!
gosh, I was excited.. but I don't have the ability to read this chart in this format. is it possible someone could turn it into a pdf? pretty please? !

Campanula's around the heel

2007-08-26T15:26:00.000-04:00

Well, I finished my short row heel this morning, I think it's kind of clever everytime I do it, but I still manage to favor a cuff down pattern. I did 4 full repeats of the lace pattern and now I wonder if I should have maybe done just 3.5...I have a 7-7.5 foot. It's hard to gauge but it seems a little "baggy" - I was thinking I may just continue the lace in the front and perhabs do ribbing up the back? It could keep my sock up and take up any slack. But then traditionally lace isn't very forgiving, so maybe the leg will pull it all together? Does the ribbing sound like a ridiculous plan? I dread pulling out my pretty heel to take out the 8 rows - what do you think?

It's hard to see what I am talking about from the picture, I am just admiring my heel. :)

New to the KAL

2007-08-24T14:36:00.000-04:00

I just learned of this incredible KAL and very worthy cause. IT was my pleasure to donate. I shared with Ramona that although I've not been touched in my family with breast cancer; there have been many other forms of this disease. Most recently, my mom passed away in May from Lung Cancer. So in honor of my mom, I donated to Ramona and will knit these socks. Since the color for lung cancer is clear or pearl, and my mom also suffered from kidney disease, I will knit my socks in green - the color for kidney disease awareness.

THanks so much Ramona for doing this! :)

Robyn

It's Been Quite A Day

2007-08-23T22:10:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday I took my Campanula with me when I went to see The Yarn Harlot. You can see the post here. I am surprised and amazed to see that Stephanie put a picture of me holding the Campanula sock and her sock on her blog today. All I can say is, first THANK YOU STEPHANIE. Second, I hope this generates LOTS of money for a cause that is near and dear to my heart - I lost my mother to breast cancer almost 25 years ago and as you well know, I am a survivor myself. Ramona, you are one amazing lady and I hope you are able to raise more than your goal for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer.

Look, I'm Done!

2007-08-23T20:46:00.001-04:00

Hey, I finished my socks! I know I actually knitted three of them, with all the ripping and re-doing I did, but hooray, I finished them.

The photo looks pretty washed out, but that's the best I could do indoors. I'll take better photos for the gallery!

I just am so happy to have been able to get mine done and share them, hot off the slightly bent needles (from the purl three through back loops, I guess).

I did 8 rows of twisted rib at the end, and bound off as the pattern suggested. It's nice, because it puts the chain of bound off stitches on the inside.

I will wear my socks happily and tell everyone I see how to get the pattern! I am no Yarn Harlot, but I did manage to finish a pair of socks. Yow, took me a long time, too (I'm no Wendy Johnson, either).

I hope to see other people's progress posted!

First Lime'n'Violet, now the Yarn Harlot

2007-08-23T18:10:00.000-04:00

Diva, m'dear, get ready for a flood.
The Yarn Harlot linked you today.

Sadly, my Campanulas are in a time-out. When they are properly shamed and apologetic (and I have the right size needles -- stupid American needle sizing), they can come out and play again.

Laura Y.

Brief Intro

2007-08-23T01:34:00.000-04:00

Hello, my name is Jan. I hope to be making a donation soon so that I can make this beautiful sock. Right now, however, I do precious little knitting. I just started radiation treatments for endometrial cancer and spend alot of time either traveling to and from appointments, or napping. Anyway, I hope to donate soon so I can get started!

Chart Updated

2007-08-22T23:28:00.000-04:00

Someone found a typo in my chart! I updated the file, so you can all download a fresh one if you like (the mistake was in Row 4). I also learned the magical "merge cells" trick which enabled me to move the key below the chart. This is my first experience ever with Excel. Can you tell?

Pirk's sock start

2007-08-22T09:08:00.001-04:00

I finally "got it" meaning the toe part. I am so happy.
I am using Lanett yarn, which is 100% merino wool.
My needle tips are quite sharp and they tend to split the yarn.
I have another yarn I am going to test, and which ever splits
the least that's what I am going to use. the other yarn is
Zimba Medium (I won it in a raffle, or my friend won it, but gave it to me)

Checking my gauge ...

2007-08-22T08:49:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, this is Rhonda. I just signed up last week. Made my donation so I could get this beautiful sock pattern and then the quest for the perfect pink sock yarn followed the next day. Couldn't believe my luck that I found at my LYS, not only PINK, but sock yarn that I had never tried before ... Schaefer Yarn Anne. 60% merino wool superwash, 25% mohair, 15% nylon. Handpainted and very lovely to knit with.

Isn't it a pretty pink too? Well I cast on this past weekend and completed short row toes ... my first time doing them in st st rather than garter st.

But with size two needles they were far too loose. For the first time, I then checked my gauge. Sure enough, I was off by one stitch ... into the frog pond. Re-cast on with size 1's and knit the toe again. Much better. Started the lace pattern and will take a new picture when my first sock is done. So far so good.

That's were I'm at right now. Thanks so much for the chart, BTW. I'm looking forward to following that rather than getting myself lost in the pattern. I know I won't win any contest for finishing first since I work & commute 10 hours a day. And these are not the kind of socks I like to knit on while I commute. But they are going to be so nice to wear when they're done and I really do love the fact that the donation is going to a good cause.

So now it's time to be off to work. Drop by my blog anytime at Home of the StitchingNut and happy knitting everyone!

Better Late than Never!

2007-08-20T23:27:00.000-04:00

I am very happy to report that there are many people joining this KAL daily and probably more to come who will join us both here to knit these socks and, more importantly, in supporting the ongoing fight against breast cancer.

Many people have yet to start their Campanula socks. For some their Campanulas are merely a gleam in their eye, a sock to be knitted when the time is right or when the right yarn comes into their life, or when their 32.5 WIPs are crossed off the OTN list, or when the phase of the moon is right and the stars are aligned...

So here is a gentle reminder to feel good about your involvement whatever it may be. This KAL is not a race to the finish (though I am giving a prize to the knitter of the first complete pair posted). Like my upcoming 60-km walk (Gulp!... pause for "WTF was I thinking?!"... ), slow and steady will get the job done. Furthermore, I will be delighted to continue this KAL for as long as people are interested in knitting these socks and sharing their experience of them.

So just remember - better late than never! Let's just keep those socks and, more importantly, the donations coming.

ready, set, knit!

2007-08-19T23:03:00.001-04:00

I have the first toe done in some Sundara - already I am in love with the yarn and can't wait to start the pattern on the sock. I tried a new toe - the figure 8, very cool. Sometimes the most simple things really impress me. :)

Campanula Chart - Get it Here!

2007-08-19T20:20:00.000-04:00

Until Ramona has a chance to place a link in the sidebar, I thought I'd let you know you can download it from my server here: Download Campanula chart here!
It's an Excel chart, so you will need Excel to be able to view and print it out. Enjoy!

YES,WE HAVE A CHART!

2007-08-19T19:49:00.000-04:00

Hi, there, Happy Campanula Campers!

I've been juggling lots of things lately and kept trying to steal a couple of miutes to cobble together a chart for the lace, and it was done a couple of weeks ago but still waiting to be edited (because I can't ever do anything the easy way - long story). Meanwhile, lo and behold, the ever talented and beautiful Maggie, she of the magnificent hand-dyed yarns I offered for the last contest, went ahead and charted our lovely campanula lace for us, and graciously permitted me to share it with you. (Bless you, Maggie!)

~~There is one little thing I need to look into, then I will make the chart available to all the KAL participants ASAP.~~

New breast cancer sock kit coming from Chappy

2007-08-19T18:42:00.000-04:00

Skacel will be kitting up my booby sock to help fight cancer. All monies taken in from the kit will go to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Reasearch Center.

Can't wait to start knitting this sock!!!

chappy
http://www.purrfectlycatchydesigns.com
http://community.webshots.com/user/chappywoman
http://stores.ebay.com/CHAPPYS-FIBER-ARTS-AND-CRAFTS

2007-08-19T12:40:00.002-04:00

Have we thought of knitting this beautiful pattern of socks and then selling the pairs to earn more money for the cause? Is this plausible?

One Sock Down!

2007-08-19T09:48:00.001-04:00

Yes, I finished Sock #1 of my Campanulas. I had a bit of an adventure yesterday, when I got so distracted doing the requested "knitting in public" at the LYS that when I got home I got lost in the pattern. Hadn't written down what row I was on. Oops. I erased a bit and started at a point right after some flowers were finished. I knit an entire repeat. And looked. I had repeated the same half of the pattern twice. Oh no!

I was disheartened, so I unraveled all that and said to myself that I just couldn't re-do that a third time, so I did the border. It looked nice. When I put the sock on, heck it was long enough as is! As you can see, it goes to the sheep's foot on the sock blocker. So, all is well, and I can start #2 today.

I did talk the pattern up to a couple of customers today, and one lady wrote the name of the KAL down and told me what a lovely cause it is! I knitted on it a bit at high school band "Everything Day" when my sons got their uniforms, ordered food for game days and such. One dad asked me if I ever put the knitting bag down, but that's as far as it went!

Modifications on this sock: I did a Turkish cast-on rather than short-row, but I did do a short-row heel. On the gusset, I did the increases via paired lifted increase, two inside the edge, which made a little decorative section. I did ten rows of ribbing at the top, and used the bind-off suggested in the pattern. It worked just great!

I WON! I WON! I WON!

2007-08-19T08:51:00.000-04:00

...I'd like to thank everyone who made this award possible... THANKS RAMONA!
Thank you for coming up with a great idea to raise money for Breast Cancer Research! (and for helping me win free sock yarn in the process!)

Let the Fun Begin

2007-08-18T21:15:00.001-04:00

I just started the first Campanula sock. I'm using Tofutsie in colour Light Foot or colour no. 730. I am hoping I will remember this pattern eventually so I don't have to keep following the pattern. So far I have to follow it every other row. Thank you Maggie for the pattern chart. It is much easier for me to follow the pattern this way.

I must admit I am very very disappointed with the Tofutsie sock yarn. I don't think it has enough twist. The yarn splits rather easily and I would have lighted if it was a little on the heavier side. Other than that, I really like the colour. Pink, to me, is very appropriate since it's Campanula for the Cure, the pink ribbon is for breast cancer awareness. Being a breast cancer survivor I couldn't think of a better colour for my socks.

Just joined!

2007-08-18T11:53:00.000-04:00

I am late in signing up but still so thrilled to be a part of such a great endeavor! Please visit my blog at woollymoose. Blessings and thanks. Julie

Can I have a drumroll please?....

2007-08-18T09:38:00.000-04:00

I am delighted to announce that the Winner of our Campanula for the Cure KAL Contest Number One is:

JOANNA at Wool-Crazy In Ottawa .

Joanna - please email me with your mailing address and phone number so we can arrange to send your choice of the lovely hand-dyed sock yarns available ASAP.

NOW, let's see what you all come up with for Contest Number Two. Please post here AND at your own blog for maximum exposure.

Lime & Violet like us! They really like us!

2007-08-17T03:15:00.000-04:00

OMG.
Gasp!
OMG.OMG.OMG!!!!

Yippee!
I feel just like Sally Field at the Oscars.

(P.S. Thank You, Laura Y. XOXO)